[sudo-discuss] [omni-consensus] [backspace] Re: [BAPS-Organizing] Re: Backspace Space proposal

[Cere Mona Davis]

In which case I don't understand the point of even specifying that BWC
would use the 3rd room as a change?  In theory that 3rd room, as a shared
space, is usable by all collective members and it's not explicitly stated.

On Tue, Oct 21, 2014 at 11:35 AM, margaretha haughwout <
margaretha.anne.haughwout at gmail.com> wrote:

> No we are exploring co-administration with other groups so that classes
> could be taught in the disco. 2 dedicated rooms.
>
> margaretha anne haughwout
> uncli*que* <http://beforebefore.net>, disconnect
> <margaretha.anne.haughwout at gmail.com>
>
> On Tue, Oct 21, 2014 at 11:27 AM, Cere Mona Davis <ceremona at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> So, to clarify is Backspace going to be asking for 3 "dedicated" rooms,
>> one of which will be the disco room now run by OmniDance?  If they are
>> dedicated solely to BWC I don't see how the comment about BWC and BAPS
>> co-"administering" the space fits.
>>
>>
>>> In our next proposal iteration we will seek a trial period for these
>>> rooms of 3 months. At this point, everything is conjecture. Is it too much
>>> space, is it too little? Will it feel like a welcoming place for those
>>> seeking wellness? Will BWC and BAPS get along in administering the space,
>>> does the ADA lift need to go in, etc.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> margaretha anne haughwout
>>> uncli*que* <http://beforebefore.net>, disconnect
>>> <margaretha.anne.haughwout at gmail.com>
>>>
>>> On Tue, Oct 21, 2014 at 1:31 AM, David Keenan <dkeenan44 at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hello everyone,
>>>>
>>>> After reading through all the responses on this I am hearted by the
>>>> support for Backspace and how far it has come. I am obviously in total
>>>> support of a wellness collective at the omni, and personally have over the
>>>> last year spent a lot of time working *extremely* hard specifically on
>>>> this point in pretty much every way I could - since we got this Omni thing
>>>> going, I have probably worked harder on making backspace a wellness
>>>> collective than any other group including BAPS. Actually Backspace, before
>>>> you are disheartened by the concerns that must be aired in this current
>>>> process, I think its fair to say Backspace has over time been more nurtured
>>>> and gotten more support from the rest of the OOC than any other group, in
>>>> spite of the financial commitment issue. I thank my lucky stars that
>>>> Margaretha in particular has made unbelieveable effort to get wellness into
>>>> backspace, and make backspace awesome. Andrew deserves a huge amount of
>>>> credit for his patience, generosity and incredible flexibility really with
>>>> respect to Backspace's evolution and mission.
>>>>
>>>> However, I am not in support of this proposal as it is currently
>>>> articulated for one reason: With respect to the use of space, I think it is
>>>> *too* limiting for Backspace, and at the same time it also has
>>>> unnecessarily negative and significant downstream effects for others,
>>>> especially any other group without dedicated space (community groups, etc).
>>>> The 'den' in particular in my view should not be privileged to any one
>>>> group.
>>>>
>>>> Why? Well:
>>>>
>>>> Backspace can *already* use *all* the currently-common spaces in the
>>>> Omni for its intended consultations, classes and events, not just
>>>> privileged use of this or that room. In this way, as Don actually pointed
>>>> out in a way, the current proposal outlining all the specific rooms they
>>>> want privileged use of versus not, actually *limits* the space
>>>> Backspace already has at its disposal - and it limits it for others too,
>>>> since especially those without dedicated space are as a result conversely
>>>> unprivileged (and left presumably to fight for the scraps of remaining
>>>> 'commons' that they can then have their own privileged use over). It's a
>>>> funny sort of forest-for-the-trees occlusion of how space can be
>>>> effectively used that's going on within the proposal I think, but it's a
>>>> serious one because it speaks directly to the heart of what a radical
>>>> commoning of space is and shapes the very concept of what 'sharing'
>>>> equitably means, at this crucial axis of praxis right now.
>>>>
>>>> Currently, *without* Backspace;s proposal for new dedicated/privileged
>>>> space, Backspace could schedule yoga or martial arts classes in the
>>>> ballroom, or the 'den' room or, with OMNIdance's permission, the disco room
>>>> (who have already offered this resource to Backspace in several delegate
>>>> meetings).
>>>>
>>>> One-on-one Backspace consultations can *already* be had in the
>>>> 'eyeball room', the ticketbooth room once it is finished, or TIL's old room
>>>> (aka kids room aka 'Storage 1')... or OMP's basement rooms, or the 'bunker
>>>> room' (aka plotting room), etc.
>>>>
>>>> Regarding locked rooms, I have talked with Margaretha several times in
>>>> the past about the need to lock up sensitive tinctures and supplies, and
>>>> from what she told me they could be locked up in a cabinet, and would not
>>>> need to take up a whole room. Likewise we talked about locking up massage
>>>> tables and so on, and figured out places where they might safely be stored
>>>> that would not leave a whole room empty and unavailable for people to meet
>>>> in when it was not used. In other words there does not appear to be a need
>>>> for a locked room, when there can simply be locked cabinets or lockers.
>>>> (This is very similar issue to what came up initially with the RLL
>>>> proposal.) Given this, if we all treat the rooms in our Commons with
>>>> respect as we should, why can't this be an Omni 'members' only area along
>>>> with the rest of the building?
>>>>
>>>> Yes, all these common spaces and rooms must currently be scheduled and
>>>> shared with other collectives. But I don't understand why this is bad? or
>>>> something that would 'stymie' Backspace in any way at all.
>>>>
>>>> To me it is rather a huge amount of space for Backspace, far more than
>>>> they had in their initial commitment (since collapsed) for $2K/mo. If in
>>>> fact we as a commons run out of space for a wellness collective to operate
>>>> along with the rest of us inside of 22K sq.feet, massive areas of which are
>>>> still shared and available for precisely such purposes and with that intent
>>>> all along, it will be precisely *because* too many rooms and spaces
>>>> are being taken or edge out of the what is commonly available and allocated
>>>> to or 'privileged' for specific people.
>>>>
>>>> That this staking out of space was *already happening* is probably why
>>>> Backspace is so worried about not having any space, leading them to stake
>>>> this claim with such urgency. Backspacers, I feel I understand this fear
>>>> very well, and believe it or not is why I counterintuitively proposed that
>>>> BAPS have a bit of space for its own 'privileged' use. As all those at the
>>>> BAPS meetings when I proposed this to BAPS can attest, the BAPS proposal
>>>> was articulated from the start as a conspiracy: Actually BAPS wants the
>>>> remaining common space including all the space BAPS proposed for its
>>>> supposed privileged use, to remain in common *for everyone*. If the
>>>> proposal passed, we would ensure that it would remain common as we always
>>>> have (and currently continue to do by not having dedicated space and
>>>> demonstrating how this is not just possible but effective). If the BAPS
>>>> proposal didn't pass, we would hear objections within the OOC from people
>>>> saying "no, it's important to have a commons and shared space", and that
>>>> would be a win also for the commons - in that others would begin advocating
>>>> clearly for the virtues of shared space, articulations which in our view
>>>> was sorely needed from others, not just BAPS. I realize now theres a
>>>> commons working group which is *amazing*, but there wasn't then, and I
>>>> got tired of seeing proposed floorplans without BAPS or any shared commons
>>>> aside from the ballroom even on it.
>>>>
>>>> The allotment of space, time and rent in the omni should to my mind be
>>>> based on not just one group's needs and abilities, but the needs and
>>>> abilities of everyone else in the commons, too: It should be inherently
>>>> relational, not territorial. There is no demonstrated need for Backspace to
>>>> have dedicated or privileged use of room X or Y, especially when they can
>>>> use every common room in the building along with their comrades.
>>>>
>>>> If Backspace gets so popular that they do run out of rooms to schedule
>>>> comfortably with other groups who are also here and have a right to them
>>>> too, why not deal with that problem when we get to it? Too much business
>>>> doesn't sound like that bad of a problem to have. I see no good reason why
>>>> we can't all share space *equally*.
>>>>
>>>> The downstream effect here is that carving up the remaining common
>>>> space will and has already led others to be inclined to do the same thing,
>>>> instead of sharing as equals, and then there will only be a 'commons' of
>>>> like 2 rooms in the whole building, and as someone who cares about the
>>>> commons and the health of the whole project more than just any one group in
>>>> the project, that concerns me most. To me this sort of fear is exactly the
>>>> kind of 'hypothetical' anti-pattern that Yar talks about, and a fear that
>>>> becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy in that acting on it by staking out
>>>> space away from the commons actualizes the problem itself - maybe not for
>>>> backspace anymore, but certainly for others like BAPS, or all the other
>>>> community groups at large without any space at all who we would like to
>>>> meet here and for whom I thought this space could be a resource.
>>>>
>>>> I say this as someone who fought and worked *very* hard for the
>>>> concept of backspace as a wellness collective - incorporated backspace,
>>>> signed the lease for backspace, defended backspace's previously-chosen
>>>> dedicated space at many many meetings and one on one - and most importantly
>>>> implored my community and everyone I knew with an interest in wellness to
>>>> participate and make it happen.
>>>>
>>>> I care far too much - exclusively practically - about the wellness of
>>>> the *entire* collective and the effort as a whole in its mission as a
>>>> commons. Through the input of many people whom I love and respect, I
>>>> realized that I needed to actually care less about this effort, and care
>>>> more for myself. With a bit of distance I can say that I now speak with a
>>>> sense of love and appreciation for every group including Backspace, but
>>>> beyond any one group, its that for this to remain a commons, we should try
>>>> to operate from a space of radical sharing before deciding in advance that
>>>> it would never work.
>>>>
>>>> Love,
>>>> David
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Oct 20, 2014 at 5:16 PM, margaretha haughwout <
>>>> margaretha.anne.haughwout at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> This is really wonderful everyone.
>>>>>
>>>>> THANK YOU <3 <3 <3
>>>>>
>>>>> margaretha anne haughwout
>>>>> uncli*que* <http://beforebefore.net>, disconnect
>>>>> <margaretha.anne.haughwout at gmail.com>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Mon, Oct 20, 2014 at 3:08 PM, Donald Hughes <
>>>>> kamiyodojo.ca at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>    So what I am hearing is that we are all supportive of each other.
>>>>>> I hear general consensus on Backspace being able to schedule time in the
>>>>>> Dance Room, the Den, and the downstairs space next to the lift.  No one
>>>>>> wants any one else to not be able to have access to these spaces, but we
>>>>>> would like the ability to begin scheduling in these rooms. I hear people
>>>>>> not being opposed to the idea that we get the EyeBall room and that it is
>>>>>> lockable.  So it seems as though we have the rudiments of agreement.
>>>>>>     Nikki, I would like to address what you are asking for.  We need
>>>>>> to have something certain to give to other professionals who would like to
>>>>>> use the space for healing or classes.  This has not yet manifested, so it
>>>>>> is difficult to tell you exactly what the time and space looks like as of
>>>>>> yet.  My goal would be that we have this mostly fleshed out by November
>>>>>> 1st, and have everything totally solidified by December 1st.
>>>>>>    But what I think we can do in the meantime, is offer basically our
>>>>>> proposal.  Which is to have scheduling power over 50% of the Den.  But we
>>>>>> also want to be able to schedule time in the other spaces in conjunction
>>>>>> with the other collectives who want a say in those spaces.  To my mind it
>>>>>> seems fair that when we schedule something in other spaces we give up some
>>>>>> of our scheduling time in the Den.  But none of this is worked out.  I just
>>>>>> think this is something that could be fair and will work.
>>>>>>   In order to move forward on a Nov1st start date for the clinic, we
>>>>>> would need the ability to schedule time at least in the EyeBall room, which
>>>>>> I would like to start calling the clinic room.  We would need this ASAP as
>>>>>> it will take a process to get new members who are willing to pay money for
>>>>>> space to do their practices.  I hope this helps us to move forward.  Note
>>>>>> that these are my opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of
>>>>>> the rest of Backspace.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thank you everyone,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Don
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Mon, Oct 20, 2014 at 4:07 PM, niki <niki.shelley at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Agreed! Thank you, Yar!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I also want to assure everyone involved that my bringing up issues
>>>>>>> around money is meant only to make the material realities of this project
>>>>>>> visible, so that there are no surprises and to encourage member groups to
>>>>>>> be explicit about what they can and cannot contribute. It's important that
>>>>>>> we reconfigure our expenses to reflect changes in member groups
>>>>>>> contributions in order to accurately project our needs.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> That said, I had a conversation with Margaretha some time ago in
>>>>>>> which I said that having Backspace involved in the Omni was way more
>>>>>>> important to me than their financial contribution.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I know it's very hard for us to talk about money. I am hopeful that
>>>>>>> we can be clear and open so that we may begin to
>>>>>>> replace feelings of shame, anxiety and anger around money with
>>>>>>> feelings of compassion and support.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I LOVE BACKSPACE and really want to help support it in coming into
>>>>>>> being in whatever way I can.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> <3 <3
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> N
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Mon, Oct 20, 2014 at 11:25 AM, Sara Larsen <
>>>>>>> saralarsenyoga at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I want to thank you Yar for this incredible letter. Needless to
>>>>>>>> say, I support the views you expressed 100%!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Mon, Oct 20, 2014 at 8:40 AM, Scott Nanos <scott.nanos at gmail.com
>>>>>>>> > wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I agree 200% w/ yar and hope we can come to a conclusion that
>>>>>>>>> works for all of us (particularly for backspace). I can't come to this
>>>>>>>>> thurs meeting but my fingers are crossed double crossed triple crossed.
>>>>>>>>> Hoping Baps and backspace can team up to become champions of the commons <3
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Xo
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Scott
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> > On Oct 20, 2014, at 8:28 AM, yar <yardenack at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>> >> On Thu, Oct 16, 2014 at 12:58 PM, yar <yardenack at gmail.com>
>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> >> It's not your fault, it's not anybody else's fault either. I
>>>>>>>>> really
>>>>>>>>> >> hope the confusion isn't interpreted as bad faith or a lack of
>>>>>>>>> >> support. We all need to get better at that, of course, but also
>>>>>>>>> get
>>>>>>>>> >> better at forgiving each others' mistakes, in the spirit of
>>>>>>>>> jubilee.
>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>> > I want to just reiterate this in light of the past few days of
>>>>>>>>> > conversation. I have heard a lot of different narratives about
>>>>>>>>> what
>>>>>>>>> > happened with Backspace over the past few months. I don't claim
>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>> > know exactly what happened anymore, but it seems to boil down to
>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>> > huge string of communication failures that resulted in Backspace
>>>>>>>>> > paying for space to operate, yet having no space until now.
>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>> > At Thursday's meeting, the subject of past-due utility bills
>>>>>>>>> came up,
>>>>>>>>> > but it seems apropos to mention that lots of Omni groups have
>>>>>>>>> not paid
>>>>>>>>> > utility bills, or even rent, and one of the amazing potential
>>>>>>>>> things
>>>>>>>>> > about Omni is our capacity to be a non-evil landlord - each
>>>>>>>>> according
>>>>>>>>> > to their ability and their need.
>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>> > It's clear that most backspace folks are WORKERS whose primary
>>>>>>>>> concern
>>>>>>>>> > is being able to see their clients and students and make a living
>>>>>>>>> > wage. It's also clear to me that the primary benefit of having
>>>>>>>>> > Backspace at Omni is NOT the money they'd bring in, but the new
>>>>>>>>> > people, energy and perspectives. It would REALLY SUCK if we lost
>>>>>>>>> all
>>>>>>>>> > that by fighting with them over money.
>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>> > Other than money, the only other concern I'm hearing about this
>>>>>>>>> > proposal is about space. While I have expressed concerns about
>>>>>>>>> > "enclosure" in the past, Backspace's plans for the den or
>>>>>>>>> "storage
>>>>>>>>> > room" are NOT enclosures. They're stewardship of commons. This is
>>>>>>>>> > exactly the model I always dreamed of for our building!
>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>> > Finally, there's BAPS. I think it might help to separate BAPS'
>>>>>>>>> > pragmatic need to host many evening classes from BAPS' position
>>>>>>>>> as a
>>>>>>>>> > roving "nomadic" group without dedicated space, and both from the
>>>>>>>>> > concept of "enclosure". Because it seems to me like Backspace's
>>>>>>>>> > pragmatic needs are similar to BAPS - to assemble in spaces and
>>>>>>>>> occupy
>>>>>>>>> > them for a finite period, for classes and 1-on-1 sessions. So
>>>>>>>>> what are
>>>>>>>>> > the ways we can frame this as a collaboration rather than a
>>>>>>>>> > competition?
>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>> > I think these problems would get solved a lot faster if we were
>>>>>>>>> all
>>>>>>>>> > able to trust each other, the best path to building trust is for
>>>>>>>>> > Backspace to begin operating at the Omni ASAP, and the best way
>>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>>> > that to happen is to show support and forgiveness all around.
>>>>>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Let us be together,
>>>>>>>> Let us eat together,
>>>>>>>> Let us be vital together,
>>>>>>>> Let us be radiating truth,
>>>>>>>> radiating the light of life,
>>>>>>>> Never shall we denounce anyone,
>>>>>>>> never entertain negativity.
>>>>>>>> -- The Upanishads
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>  --
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>>>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/backspacewellness/CAL8c4AY%2BqHJLys4eCcYLAGpxNG2AO405VpLHVJyxYVJTYBhtiA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>
>>>>>>> .
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>  --
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>>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/backspacewellness/CA%2BmgZdP5Ea-7OqnayWoDHbqWUgmnfES0YTq4saeUO1GF%3D2tR2w%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>
>>>>>> .
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>>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>> .
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>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  --
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>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
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>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Best Regards,
>> Cere Davis
>> ceremona at gmail.com
>> -------------------
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>
>


-- 
Best Regards,
Cere Davis
ceremona at gmail.com
-------------------
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